At 2400 feet Buttercups are blooming (Sagebrush Buttercups (Ranunculus glaberrimus)
At 5000 feet there is still four feet of snow on the road. (The tracks on the road were made by snowmobiles.)
February 28, 2016
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Montana Outdoors 
Looks like you’re having fun in your new Lamborghini.
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — February 28, 2016 @ 2:14 pm
So far it’s doing what I wanted it to. I don’t think a Lamborghini would go there.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2016 @ 3:57 pm
The “Mountain Lamborghini”! 😉
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Comment by wordsfromanneli — February 28, 2016 @ 7:59 pm
I’ll bet that new ATV is a lot of fun! And it’ll get you to the buttercups.
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — February 28, 2016 @ 3:58 pm
Yes, I’ve been enjoying riding on snowmobile tracks. It will be even better when I get a winch on it so I won’t have to worry so much about breaking through the crust on the snow.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2016 @ 4:03 pm
I think I’d feel better with a winch on it too, otherwise It could be a long walk back!
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Comment by New Hampshire Garden Solutions — February 28, 2016 @ 4:05 pm
Lovely shots of the buttercups. Definitely a sign that Spring is on the way.
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Comment by Vicki — February 28, 2016 @ 5:00 pm
Yes, when they begin to bloom on the valley hillsides, spring won’t be far away. We will however get more snow and some cold nights before April comes.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2016 @ 5:13 pm
Looks like someone’s out adventuring with the new toy! I know we are going to be thrilled to see what you discover on your new territory excursions. This post on showing the altitude changes are amazing!
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Comment by bayphotosbydonna — February 28, 2016 @ 7:30 pm
That’s something I love about this area. The buttercups and the snow banks are about ten miles apart.
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Comment by montucky — February 28, 2016 @ 8:05 pm
I love watching the flowers bloom in the mountains as winter recedes at each elevation.
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Comment by Charlie@Seattle Trekker — February 28, 2016 @ 10:06 pm
I do too. I enjoy seeing them bloom at the valley level and then seeing the same species months later several thousand feet higher up the mountains. Also the various species that choose to live at completely different elevations. that will come in several months though.
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Comment by montucky — February 29, 2016 @ 10:54 am
How very beautiful! I bet it was wonderful to be up there.
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Comment by Jo Woolf — February 29, 2016 @ 1:59 am
Even here it’s a somewhat rare experience to be there this time of year and I savor every second of it. There is of course risk involved, but I’d rather take my chances up there alone than the risks of highway travel where I have no control over the other traffic.
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Comment by montucky — February 29, 2016 @ 10:57 am
Couldn’t agree more!
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Comment by Jo Woolf — February 29, 2016 @ 11:11 am
Beautiful shots, Terry. I’m glad the new “toy” is working out well. I don’t think I’ve been higher than 1400ft in Australia. Not many real mountains my way! 🙂
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Comment by Jane — February 29, 2016 @ 4:58 am
I could never leave these mountains again. There are so many secluded retreats available to those few who choose to make the effort to to find them. I enjoy experiencing the wild country where there is little influence from “civilization”.
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Comment by montucky — February 29, 2016 @ 11:01 am
I think where you are in the mountains is the real ‘civilisation’!
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Comment by Finn Holding — March 5, 2016 @ 12:57 pm
It surely is from my perspective!
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Comment by montucky — March 6, 2016 @ 8:30 pm
flowers and a new vehicle
fun fun fun
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Comment by Tammie — February 29, 2016 @ 11:37 am
It’s like a new frontier. I’ll probably put it away when the roads are good enough to take the Jeep, but now it really expands my territory.
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Comment by montucky — February 29, 2016 @ 1:09 pm
I was out and about both Saturday and Sunday, and couldn’t believe the number of buttercups. I’m used to seeing them come back after mowing, too — out in the wild, they’re much taller. Do yours ever show color variation? I’ve seen a fair number with yellow and white petals. I’m not sure if it’s a genetic variation, or the result of external causes. Like yours, they surely are pretty. We don’t have any snow to go with ours, though. I’m glad yours is holding up so well.
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Comment by shoreacres — February 29, 2016 @ 9:39 pm
I’ve seen white versions of several wildflowers (Calypso Orchids, Harebells and Shooting Stars), but I can’t remember ever seeing white buttercups.
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Comment by montucky — March 1, 2016 @ 9:40 am
Hi Montucky, So glad you have the little beauties. The buttercups are a welcome sign that Spring is on the way. Have a pleasant day tomorrow!
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Comment by wildlifewatcher — February 29, 2016 @ 9:42 pm
Yes. Who needs a calendar?
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Comment by montucky — March 1, 2016 @ 9:41 am
Such a beautiful, wonderful place. Love the buttercups!!
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Comment by lorigreer — March 1, 2016 @ 5:37 pm
Thank you Lori!
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Comment by montucky — March 1, 2016 @ 7:46 pm
It reminded me of two things: skiing trips and also photography excursions in the quiet of the forest in the winter.
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Comment by lorigreer — March 1, 2016 @ 10:03 pm
Lori, I am fortunate to live in a place where I can photograph wildflowers one day and a day or two later ride on snowmobile tracks. I dearly love both.
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Comment by montucky — March 1, 2016 @ 10:17 pm
You are indeed lucky. In Portland, we are not too far from the beach and Mount Hood. But, the traffic, work, etc. Too many things get in the way. I have to get out more!!
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Comment by lorigreer — March 1, 2016 @ 10:30 pm
Sometimes you just have to make time for the outdoors. I find that there are big advantages to letting nature rejuvenate me.
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Comment by montucky — March 2, 2016 @ 10:09 am
I agree. It is easy to get bogged down in chores and other tasks and forget about the beauty that lies just outside my door.
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Comment by lorigreer — March 3, 2016 @ 9:18 am
Very nice, Terry…and I was wondering about that “breaking through the crust on the snow” scenario, as well…..be safe out there….
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Comment by seekraz — March 1, 2016 @ 9:43 pm
It pays to be careful. I wouldn’t mind the long hike back to the highway, but getting the thing out of the snow would be more difficult!
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Comment by montucky — March 1, 2016 @ 10:06 pm
Your snow photos are gorgeous. I love those tracks made by snowmobiles and landscapes around them is gorgeous.
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Comment by Sartenada — March 2, 2016 @ 12:52 am
Thanks Matti. It has been good to get out and enjoy the last of winter.
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Comment by montucky — March 2, 2016 @ 10:10 am
No sign of buttercups in our Alps yet but a great amount of fresh snow. And no snowmobile yet. Good luck and much pleasure in your new excursions. Lovely picture !
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Comment by isathreadsoflife — March 2, 2016 @ 9:18 am
Our snowfall here has been less than usual this winter, but it has been enjoyable. It seems that spring is just about on its normal time schedule.
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Comment by montucky — March 2, 2016 @ 10:11 am
That fourth picture shows it isn’t only people who enjoy buttercups.
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Comment by Steve Schwartzman — March 4, 2016 @ 6:23 am
Rather tattered, isn’t it. I think that may be effects from the weather though.
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Comment by montucky — March 4, 2016 @ 8:36 am
I hadn’t considered the weather, but given your northerly latitude, I should have. I guess not a lot of insects are out yet.
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Comment by Steve Schwartzman — March 4, 2016 @ 8:54 am
That’s so cool that you can now easily traverse such distances and altitudes. It looks fun.
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Comment by Candace — March 4, 2016 @ 9:18 pm
One of the many things I like about this area is that it’s possible to see spring or summer in the valley and then fairly quickly go up several thousand feet and see winter or spring up there on the same day.
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Comment by montucky — March 4, 2016 @ 9:41 pm